Trash trap for liquid manure disposal systems

ABSTRACT

A trash trap for liquid manure disposal systems that has cylindrical housing with an open interior. The housing has a first end with an inlet port and an outlet port in its side wall. The cylindrical housing also has a removable cylindrical filter that has a fluid opening in its side walls and is detachably mounted along a centerline of the housing. The cylindrical filter has a diameter that is less than the inner diameter of the housing so that fluid can enter the housing through the inlet port and exit through the outlet port. Also, on the second end of the housing there is a detachable cap around an access opening.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This is a continuation of Provisional Patent Application No.60/350,602 filed Jan. 22, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] It is common to pump liquid sewage out of pits in hog confinementbuildings. A pump in the pit typically agitates the sewage, and thempumps the sewage through various pipes or hoses to either another largeholding reservoir, or the tank of a large vehicle or trailer for finaldisposal purposes.

[0003] Hog confinement buildings represent a harsh environment, andforeign materials often are in the pits containing the sewage. Suchmaterials can be parts of feeders, waterers, bones of deceased animals,tools, and various other items that may be moved from the pit as theliquid sewage is pumped therefrom. This debris can clog pipes, dischargevalves, and create substantial down-time and damage in the sewagedisposal process.

[0004] It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide atrash trap for liquid manure disposal systems which will remove debrisfrom the disposal conduits.

[0005] A further object of this invention is to provide a trash trap forliquid manure disposal systems which is durable, easily used, and easilycleaned.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention is a trash trap for liquid manure disposalsystems. The trash trap has a cylindrical housing that has an openinterior and a first and second ends. The cylindrical housing also hasside walls. The first end of the cylindrical housing has an inlet port.An outlet port is located in the side wall of the housing. Thecylindrical housing also has a removable cylindrical filter that has afluid opening in its side walls and is detachably mounted along thecenterline of the housing. The cylindrical filter has a diameter that isless than the inner diameter of the housing so that fluid can enter thehousing through the inlet port. The smaller diameter also allows thefluid to go through the filter, into a space in the housing between theside walls of the housing and the filter, and finally through the outletport. Also, there is a detachable cap on a second end of the housingaround an access opening. This permits manual grasping of one end of thefilter for removal from the housing.

[0007] This invention also encompasses a detachable filter for a trashtrap that can be disposed through a trash trap opening. The filter has acylindrical screen that has a first and second ends. The filter also hasa detachable cap that engages the cylindrical screen. The detachable capis formed from a cup that has a mounted handle. The cup mates around theoutside of the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the trash trap;

[0009]FIG. 2 is an end view thereof with the cap removed;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the filter with the cap restingthereon; and

[0011]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of how the invention is used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] With reference to FIG. 1, a trash trap 10 comprised of acylindrical housing 12 has an open interior 14 (see FIG. 4), a first end16 and a second end 18. The numeral 20 designates a side wall. Adetachable cap 23 with handle 24 and cup 22 is detachably mounted overan opening 25 (FIG. 2) and the second end 18 of the housing 12.

[0013]FIG. 3 presents the detachable filter system. The filter 32 is acylindrical screen 34 having openings 33. The cylindrical screen 34 hasa first end 36 and second end 38. The detachable cap 23 engages thesecond end 38 of the cylindrical screen 34 helping to support thecylindrical screen 34. Detachable cap 23 is formed from a cup 22 havinga mounted handle 24. The cup 22 mates around the second end 18 (FIG. 2)of trash trap 10 by covering the opening 25. The detachable cap 23allows easy access to the filter 32 when the filter 32 needs to becleaned or replaced.

[0014]FIG. 4 shows how the trash trap works in operation. An inlet port26 that is in the first end 16 of the housing 12 has a hose connection28 connected thereto. A stub tube 30 extends slightly inwardly into theinterior 14 of the housing. The filter screen has a length spanning thedistance along the interior centerline of the housing and its first end36 is fitted into stub tube 30, and its second end 38 is fits into theinterior of the cup 22. Thus, the filter is always centered and heldagainst movement within the housing. A space 42 extends around theexterior of the filter and spans the distance between the filter and theinner interior wall of the housing.

[0015] An outlet port 44 is formed in the side wall 20 of the cylinderand a laterally extending tube 46 extends outwardly therefrom. A hose orpipe connector 48 is mounted on the outer end of tube 46.

[0016] A conventional manure pit 50 containing fluid sewage 52 has anagitation pump 54 therein. A conduit 56 extends upwardly from the pumpand is connected to the hose connection 28. A conduit 57 extends betweenthe hose connector 48 and the vehicle tank 50 into which the sewage isto be deposited. The conduit can be connected to tank 58 with aconventional pressure connection if the tank 50 is equipped to spray theliquid sewage over a grooved surface.

[0017] The liquid sewage 52 is pumped from pump 54 upwardly throughconduit 56, thence through inlet port 26 and into the interior of thefilter 32. The fluid flows through openings 33 in the filter into thespace 42 around the filter, and thence outwardly through tube 46 andconduit 57 into the vehicle tank 58. Thus, all the incoming fluid willgo through filter 32 to sort out any debris which is retained in filter32 as fluid entering the filter exits the openings 33 in the filter asit moves into the space 42, and thence through the outlet port 44.

[0018] The filter can be cleaned by releasing the seal band 24A andremoving cup 22 from the end 18 of the housing 12. The filter 32 canthen be pulled longitudinally through opening 25 and the debris can beremoved therefrom, whereupon the filter can be replaced along with thecup 22.

[0019] It is therefore seen that this invention will achieve at leastall of its stated objectives.

I claim:
 1. A trash trap for liquid manure disposal systems, comprising,a cylindrical housing having an open interior, first and second ends,and side walls, the first end having an inlet port, an outlet port inthe side wall of the housing, a removable cylindrical filter havingfluid opening in its side walls detachably mounted along a centerline ofthe housing, and a detachable cap on a second end of the housing aroundan access opening to permit manual grasping of one end of the filter forremoval thereof from the housing, the diameter of the filter being lessthan the inner diameter of the housing such that fluid can enter thehousing through the inlet port, thence through the filter, thence into aspace in the housing between the side walls of the housing and thefilter, and thence through the outlet port.
 2. The trash trap of claim 1further comprising a hose connector around the inlet port.
 3. The trashtrap of claim 1 further comprising a hose connector around the outletport.
 4. The trash trap of claim 1 further comprising a handle mountedto the access opening.
 5. The trash trap of claim 4 further comprising aseal band secured to the detachable cap.